International dialing
How to call United States from Germany
- Exit code 00
- Country code +1
- No trunk prefix to drop
Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated
Calling United States from Germany
Dial 00 (the Germany exit code), then 1 (United States’s country code), then the local number exactly as written. So +1 (415) 555-0123 is dialled as 00 1 (415) 555-0123. From a mobile you can dial +1 directly instead of 00.
The dialing sequence
- Exit code from Germany
- 00
- United States country code
- +1
- Trunk prefix to remove
- None
- Dial the local number exactly as written.
- Full sequence
- 00 + 1 + local number (the national number as-is; there is no trunk prefix to drop)
- Time in United States
- ET (UTC−5/−4)
- Germany is on CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2).
Step by step
Dialing United States from Germany
Four steps, and the third one is where almost every failed call goes wrong.
- 1
Dial 00: the exit code for Germany
00 tells the Germany network that the call is leaving the country. On a mobile you can press and hold 0 to type a + instead, which works from any country and any SIM; it is the more reliable option when you travel. - 2
Dial 1: the country code for United States
1 is United States's country calling code. It never changes and is the same no matter where you are calling from. - 3
Dial the local number exactly as written
United States has no national trunk prefix, so there is nothing to remove. The number you would dial locally is the number you dial after 1. - 4
Check the local time before you dial
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4) and Germany is on CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2). Work out the overlap before calling; the most common cause of an unanswered international business call is simply the hour.
Worked examples
What the number looks like at each stage
555-0100 through 555-0199 are reserved for fictional use, so these examples never reach a real subscriber.
| Written in United States | Dialed from Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Landline | (415) 555-0123 | 00 1 (415) 555-0123 |
| Mobile | +1 (NPA) NXX-XXXX (same format as landline) | 00 1 (212) 555-0187 |
| From a mobile (+) | n/a | +1 (212) 555-0187 |
One thing about United States
US mobile and landline numbers are indistinguishable by prefix; you cannot tell them apart without a carrier lookup.
Frequently asked questions
How do I call the United States from Germany?
Dial 00, then 1, then the local number. For example, +1 (415) 555-0123 is dialled as 00 1 (415) 555-0123.
What is the country code for United States?
+1. From Germany you reach it by dialling 00 first, or by dialling + directly from a mobile.
How do I call a United States mobile from Germany?
Exactly the same way as a landline: 00 + 1 + the mobile number. A United States mobile in international format looks like +1 (212) 555-0187.
What is the time difference between Germany and United States?
Germany is on CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) and United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4). Because several of these zones observe daylight saving on different dates, check the current offset rather than assuming a fixed gap.
Is it cheaper to call United States over the internet?
Usually, yes. Carrier international rates are typically far above VoIP per-minute rates, and calling from an owned local number also means the person you are calling sees a number they can ring back.
Sources
- ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering plan — International Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.
- ITU-T International Numbering Resources — International Telecommunication UnionThe assignment of country calling codes and the published national numbering plans they belong to.
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